Purpose: – The purpose of this paper is to investigate Generation Y consumers’ luxury fashion consumption. Generation Y is becoming a very important segment for the luxury market in the USA. Specifically, this study is designed to investigate Generation Y consumers’ consumption of luxury fashion products from the following perspectives: the influence of self-related personality traits on their brand consciousness; and the influence of brand consciousness on consumption behaviours in terms of consumption motivations, purchase intention, and brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach: – A conceptual model was developed to represent the proposed relationships among the related variables. An online survey was conducted and 305 valid surveys were collected. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses. Findings: – From the perspective of self-concept, this research shed some light on the luxury fashion consumption behaviour of Generation Y consumers. Public self-consciousness and self-esteem were both found having significant influence on Generation Y consumers’ brand consciousness and in turn their luxury consumption motivations and brand loyalty. Research limitations/implications: – Limitations for this study mainly come from the representativeness of the sample, which was recruited from a panel of a third party research group. Implications for luxury fashion brand managers and retailers focus on strategies that influence the social and self-motivation for luxury consumption and level of brand consciousness. Originality/value: – This research is unique because it focuses on luxury fashion consumption of Generation Y consumers, an emerging segment in the luxury market. Generation Y consumers’ behaviour towards luxury fashion was examined in terms of their self-related personality traits, brand consciousness, motivation, and brand loyalty.

Purpose – The aim of this study is to determine, using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), affluent female consumers' purchase intention of a controversial luxury product, apparel made with American alligator leather. Design/methodology/approach – Influence variables evaluated in the model included: attitude toward performing the behavior (purchasing alligator leather apparel); subjective norm, involvement (fashion involvement); controversy perception (social acceptance and endangerment status of the American alligator); price perception (price-quality schema and prestige sensitivity); personality traits (self-confidence and self-consciousness); and demographics. A mail survey of 1,200 affluent female consumers residing in eight US metropolitan statistical areas defined as fashion centers was conducted. Findings – A total of 430 usable surveys were returned for a 36 percent response rate. The general linear model regression analysis revealed that attitude toward performing the behavior, subjective norm, controversy perception (social acceptance), and fashion involvement were significant predictors of purchase intention. Practical implications – The model was effective in predicting affluent females' purchase intention for a controversial luxury apparel product, and results suggest the TRA could be used to predict purchase intention of other luxury products considered controversial. Producers and retailers of controversial luxury apparel products or interested researchers could use the model in their exploration of consumer attitudes and behavioral intentions. Luxury exotic leather producers and retailers could use the results as they develop merchandising and promotions campaigns for their product lines. Originality/value – The theory could be used to predict purchase intention of other controversial and/or luxury fashion merchandise. Information about affluent female consumers' knowledge, perceptions, and purchase intention of American alligator leather apparel is provided, thus expanding the current limited literature.

The approximately 60 million members of Generation Y are a major force in the consumer marketplace and represent a significant behavioral shift. To develop the broad, multifaceted advertising strategy necessary to reach them, more information is needed to characterize their purchase intentions. This study determines whether the theory of reasoned action can be used as a prediction tool in examining the purchase intention of a selected consumer group and product, Generation Y consumers and fashion merchandise made of emu leather. Respondents' attitudes significantly influenced their purchase intention: The more favorable the respondent's attitude, the higher the purchase intention. Subjective norm and other external variables had no influence on this group's purchase intention. The results partially support the theory of reasoned action as a prediction tool in examining purchase intention of a consumer product. This information is important to the emu leather industry, which may want to target Generation Y consumers.